About Ms. Darbe

Welcome to my speech and language therapy page! Please check back often for updates, such as home practice activities and parent resources.

About me...

I am excited to be serving three campuses in Tomball ISD this year as a Speech Language Pathologist. During the 2018-2019 school year, I will be working at Canyon Pointe Elementary, Willow Wood Junior High, and Tomball Memorial High School. I love working with all ages of students, as well as a variety of speech and language needs. This is my 4th year as a full time employee for Tomball ISD. I have been practicing as a speech language pathologist for 15 years in a variety of public and private settings. I earned my Bachelor of Sciences in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Oklahoma State University in 2001, as well as my Master of Sciences in 2003. I lived and worked in Oklahoma until 2012, when my husband's job relocated us to Tomball. I have 3 children who attend Canyon Pointe Elementary. I love living and working in this district!

If you need a resource, or have a question, please feel free to contact me by email at bethdarbe@tomballisd.net, and I will be happy to get back in touch with you. I am typically at Willow Wood Junior High on Mondays and Wednesdays, and can be reached at 281.357.3030x1359. I am typically at Tomball Memorial High School on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and can be reached at 281.357.3230x1047. On Fridays, as well as at the end most school days, I can be reached at Canyon Pointe Elementary at 281.357.3122x2829. I look forward to hearing from you!

Recent Posts

Word of the Week

Is your child learning to communicate and you would like activities to encourage him or her at home? Does your child have a communication system or board, and you aren't sure how to use it?

Some students who are learning to communicate will be introduced to a core language "word of the week" each week. This is a great way for students, parents, and teachers to learn new vocabulary without becoming overwhelmed.

Core language consists of the words we all use most often when communicating, and can be used in a variety of contexts. Students are encouraged to participate in the activities using which ever communication system they use best. For some students, that would be verbal words and phrases. For other students, they respond to words paired with AAC (Alternative and Assisted Communication), such as a core communication board, or an app on an iPad like LAMP or Proloquo. If you have a question about how your child communicates best, or would like resources for home, please reach out. You might have fun participating in some of these activities with your child at home. Remember, have fun and model the language for your child by saying the words and/or pointing to the pictures on the communication board or device. Please check back for weekly updates on the word of the week.

Activity: Use the word "that" to fill in for a specific toy or activity that you don't have a picture or word for. If your child has limited gestures, teach your child to point at something they want while using the word "that". If your child can combine 2-3 words, model phrases such as "you want that", "that is blue", "that is fun", "go get that", or "open that".

This is the core language communication board that is often used by students and teachers to model language. The board can be used for a variety of students, from students with limited verbal abilities through students who are learning to use longer phrases and sentences. It can be used by the student, as well as the teacher or parent to model. It can seem overwhelming at first. If you focus on learning one word at a time and modeling that word for your child, you will find that the motions become more automatic and you will be a pro in no time. See my post about "word of the week" for ideas of what we are doing at school and in speech therapy. If you still find the board overwhelming, try using painter's tape to cover the words your child is not using yet, so that you and your child can focus on the word or words you are targeting. Over time, you can take the tape off and reveal new words!

Included in the above pdf file are instructions about how to print and assemble the communication board. I recommend laminating the board so that it will last longer. If you need help with printing and laminating, please email me and I will be happy to help.

All About Me Project

At the beginning of each year, many students give presentations about themselves. Students with speech and communication difficulties often have difficulties with these types of activities. I would love for each family to create a presentation about their child to be shared with their special and general education classrooms. This is a completely optional project. It is not for a grade, only for fun!

Talk about anything and everything! Have fun and give everyone at the table a turn.

For kids working on social language skills, emphasize taking turns and not dominating the conversation. Let everyone pick a topic, and be an active listener even when the topic isn’t the one you choose.

For kids working through stuttering, slow the pace and let them have time to talk uninterrupted and without pressure.

For kids working on articulation skills, catch them using good speech and praise their efforts.